2016 MTV VMA Winners!

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Article Summary: The 2016 MTV VMA winners are revealed as music video's most spectacular ceremony delivers the year's most memorable performances and iconic fashion moments.


Check out the complete list of winners below:

Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
Rihanna

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Adele – “Hello” (Director: Xavier Dolan)
Beyoncé – “Formation” (Director: Melina Matsoukas) *WINNER*
Drake – “Hotline Bling” (Director: Director X)
Justin Bieber – “Sorry” (Director: Parris Goebel)
Kanye West – “Famous” (Director: Kanye West)

BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Adele – “Hello” (Director: Xavier Dolan)
Beyoncé – “Hold Up” (Director: Jonas Åkerlund, Beyoncé Knowles Carter) *WINNER*
Sia – “Cheap Thrills” (Director: Lior Molcho)
Ariana Grande – “Into You” (Director: Hannah Lux Davis)
Rihanna ft. Drake – “Work” (short version) (Director: Director X)

BEST MALE VIDEO
Drake – “Hotline Bling” (Director: Director X)
Bryson Tiller – “Don’t” (Director: Cris)
Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna – “This Is What You Came For” (Director: Emil Nava) *WINNER*
Kanye West – “Famous” (Director: Kanye West)
The Weeknd – “Can’t Feel My Face” (Director: Grant Singer)

BEST COLLABORATION
Beyoncé ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Freedom” (Director: Beyoncé Knowles Carter, Kahlil Joseph)
Fifth Harmony ft. Ty Dolla $ign – “Work From Home” (Director: Director X) *WINNER*
Ariana Grande ft. Lil Wayne – “Let Me Love You” (Director: Grant Singer)
Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna – “This Is What You Came For” (Director: Emil Nava)
Rihanna ft. Drake – “Work” (short version) (Director: Director X)

BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
Drake – “Hotline Bling” (Director: Director X) *WINNER*
Desiigner – “Panda” (Director: Paul Geusebroek)
Bryson Tiller – “Don’t” (Director: Cris)
Chance The Rapper featuring Saba – “Angels” (Director: Austin Vesely)
2 Chainz – “Watch Out” (Director: Motion Family)

BEST POP VIDEO
Adele – “Hello” (Director: Xavier Dolan)
Beyoncé – “Formation” (Director: Melina Matsoukas) *WINNER*
Justin Bieber – “Sorry” (Director: Parris Goebel)
Alessia Cara – “Wild Things” (Director: Aaron A)
Ariana Grande – “Into You” (Director: Hannah Lux Davis)

BEST ROCK VIDEO
All Time Low – “Missing You” (Director: Patrick Tracy)
Coldplay – “Adventure Of A Lifetime” (Director: Mat Whitecross)
Fall Out Boy ft. Demi Lovato – “Irresistible” (Director: Wayne Isham)
twenty one pilots – “Heathens” (Director: Andrew Donoho) *WINNER*
Panic! At The Disco – “Victorious” (Director: Brandon Dermer)

BEST ELECTRONIC VIDEO
Calvin Harris & Disciples – “How Deep Is Your Love” (Director: Emil Nava) *WINNER*
99 Souls ft. Destiny’s Child & Brandy – “The Girl Is Mine” (Director: Ludovic Zuili / Simon Bouisson)
Mike Posner – “I Took A Pill In Ibiza” (Director: Jon Jon Augustavo)
Afrojack – “SummerThing!” (Director: Sam Sneed)
The Chainsmokers ft. Daya – “Don’t Let Me Down” (Director: Marcus Kuhne)

BREAKTHROUGH LONG FORM VIDEO
Florence + The Machine – The Odyssey
Beyoncé – Lemonade *WINNER*
Justin Bieber – PURPOSE: The Movement
Chris Brown – Royalty
Troye Sivan – Blue Neighbourhood Trilogy

BEST NEW ARTIST
Bryson Tiller
Desiigner
Zara Larsson
Lukas Graham
DNCE *WINNER*

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORIES

BEST ART DIRECTION
Beyoncé – “Hold Up” (Production Designer: Jason Hougaard)
Fergie – “M.I.L.F. $” (Production Designer: Alexander Delgado)
Drake – “Hotline Bling” (Production Designer: Jeremy MacFarlane)
David Bowie – “Blackstar” (Production Designer: Jan Houllevigue) *WINNER*
Adele – “Hello” (Production Designer: Colombe Raby)

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Beyoncé – “Formation” (Choreographer: Chris Grant, JaQuel Knight, Dana Foglia) *WINNER*
Missy Elliott ft. Pharrell – “WTF (Where They From)” (Choreographer: Hi-Hat)
Beyoncé – “Sorry” (Choreographer: Chris Grant, JaQuel Knight, Dana Foglia, Anthony Burrell, Beyoncé Knowles Carter)
FKA Twigs – “M3LL155X” (Choreographer: FKA Twigs)
Florence + The Machine – “Delilah” (Choreographer: Holly Blakey)

BEST DIRECTION
Beyoncé – “Formation” (Director: Melina Matsoukas) *WINNER*
Coldplay – “Up&Up” (Director: Vania Heymann, Gal Muggia)
Adele – “Hello” (Director: Xavier Dolan)
David Bowie – “Lazarus” (Director: Johan Renck)
Tame Impala – “The Less I Know The Better” (Director: Canada)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Beyoncé – “Formation” (Cinematographer: Malik Sayeed) *WINNER*
Adele – “Hello” (Cinematographer: André Turpin)
David Bowie – “Lazarus” (Cinematographer: Crille Forsberg)
Alesso – “I Wanna Know” (Cinematographer: Corey Jennings)
Ariana Grande – “Into You” (Cinematographer: Paul Laufer)

BEST EDITING
Beyoncé – “Formation” (Editor: Jeff Selis) *WINNER*
Adele – “Hello” (Editor: Xavier Dolan)
Fergie – “M.I.L.F. $” (Editor: Vinnie Hobbs)
David Bowie – “Lazarus” (Editor: Johan Söderberg)
Ariana Grande – “Into You” (Editor: Hannah Lux Davis)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Coldplay – “Up&Up” (VFX Editor: Vania Heymann) *WINNER*
FKA Twigs – “M3LL155X” (VFX Editor: Lewis Saunders, Jihoon Yoo)
Adele – “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” (VFX Editor: Sam Sneade)
The Weeknd – “Can’t Feel My Face” (VFX Editor: Bryan Smaller)
Zayn – “PILLOWTALK” (VFX Editor: David Smith)

Runway Magazine Editorial Team
Runway Magazine Editorial Teamhttps://runwaylive.com
Freelance articles written by the editors of Runway Magazine. With over 200 years of combined experience covering luxury fashion, beauty, high-end lifestyle, and pop culture, our team delivers authoritative, insightful commentary on the trends shaping 2026. Every piece is crafted by seasoned fashion and lifestyle editors who prioritize depth, cultural context, and forward-looking analysis.

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